"Something's not right..." Kyoko Sakura whispered, dodging yet another strike. "What exactly is he after?"
She had been weaving through the narrow alleys for several minutes now. Even though her combat suit was scuffed and light bloodstains marred her skin, none of the attacks she'd sustained were life-threatening. The realization soon dawned on her: Assassin wasn't trying to kill her. He had a different goal entirely.
'Well, whatever he's planning, the fact that I'm still alive is a plus,' she thought, wiping sweat from her brow. She glanced at her opponent, who stood only a few paces away. His blade was impossibly sharp, and combined with his god-like speed, he felt invincible. Confronting him head-on was a losing game.
If she truly wanted to win, she would have to unleash her most dangerous trump card—her final Noble Phantasm. But the thought of it made her hesitate. Actively 'Witchifying' herself was a risk she wasn't sure she was willing to take.
That was her ultimate weapon: the Soul Noble Phantasm, 'Witchification.' But having fought those monsters countless times and seen Miki's tragic end, she couldn't bring herself to trust it. If she transformed and lost control, she could level the entire city. It was a joke she didn't want to be the punchline of. And so, despite her mounting frustration, she kept that power buried.
Clatter... Kyoko gritted her teeth, her spear groaning as it blocked another strike. She was exhausted, but she wasn't alone in this fight. Clang!
She managed to deflect the Divine Sword, forcing Kenshin back. He planted his feet, his eyes narrow and focused. 'Her magical energy is still abundant,' he noted. 'She doesn't show any sign of reaching the limits of a Masterless Servant.'
He was genuinely curious about the source of her power. 'Retreat, Assassin. That is enough,' Kirei Kotomine's voice echoed in his mind. Kenshin's next motion faltered.
"Hey!" Kyoko shouted as her opponent suddenly vanished without a trace. She stood alone in the alley, her spear still raised. "What the hell was that guy's problem?"
...
"Our familiars... destroyed by a mysterious creature?" Tokiomi Tohsaka's expression was grim.
"It seems Caster is in the vicinity," Risei Kotomine added. "Is this a mere coincidence?"
The two men exchanged a look. Their surveillance feeds had cut out just as Assassin was making his move. The presence of Caster changed the equation significantly. Was Lancer working with him?
"It doesn't matter anymore," Tokiomi said, his voice cold. "We proceed with the next phase. We mobilize the other Masters. A free Command Spell is a bounty no one can ignore."
"Agreed. I will issue the notification immediately," Risei said, turning to leave.
Kirei Kotomine followed his father in silence. He suspected that Caster's appearance wasn't a coincidence at all. Given the report from Assassin, it was highly likely that Caster and Lancer had forged an alliance. It would explain how Lancer was maintaining her magical reserves. Only a Caster-class Servant would have the skill to support another Servant in such a way.
A faint, unreadable smile touched Kirei's lips as he whispered to himself, "Truly... the world is full of unpredictable turns."
...
"Are you okay?" Jonouchi asked as he approached.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kyoko replied. Her wounds were already beginning to knit back together. Most of Kenshin's strikes had been shallow, making for an easy recovery. "I just got jumped as soon as I stepped outside. Talk about bad luck."
"Who was it?"
"Assassin. But it was strange... he wasn't trying to recruit me or kill me. He was just... testing me, I think."
Jonouchi frowned as she explained the fight. "If it wasn't a probe, what was it?"
"I don't know. But there are plenty of weirdos in this war. I'm not going to lose sleep over it."
"True enough," Jonouchi said. He reached into his deck and pulled out two cards, tossing them to her. Whoosh!
Kyoko caught them, blinking in surprise. [Dark Ruler No More] and [Monster Reborn].
"What are these?" she asked, staring at the cryptic descriptions.
"Keep them on you," Jonouchi said. "I've infused them with enough magical energy that you can activate them without a Duel Disk. You might need them when things get messy."
He figured she needed the utility more than he did. Besides, clearing them from his hand allowed him to 'draw' new cards. As a Heroic Spirit bound by the rules of his own legend, he could only hold six cards at a time. To cycle his deck, he had to use or discard what he had.
With [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] and [Time Wizard] already in play or held back, and [Skill Drain] and [Negate Attack] already set, he had finally made enough room to find the cards that would truly turn the tide.
...
"I apologize for summoning you all at such an hour," Risei Kotomine proclaimed, his voice echoing through the Church. "But an emergency has occurred that requires your immediate assistance."
"Tonight, we received confirmation that innocent lives have been lost to a Servant. Our investigation points to Lancer as the culprit. Such a blatant violation of our rules cannot go unpunished."
"I am calling for the immediate elimination of this threat. To every Master who participates in the hunt, I will grant a Command Spell as a reward for your service."
The announcement was broadcast to every Master in the city. Risei knew that most of them would see through the thin veneer of his 'investigation,' but it didn't matter. Profit was the ultimate motivator. No one would pass up the chance for a free Command Spell, especially when the target was already isolated. The hunt was on.